Well… At least it\’s not blogger…..

Quick question…..

My wife was just telling me she and some friends at her work would like to start their own buisness and leave the whole working for someone else thing behind… This is something I have always wanted to do also, but I never have found out just how to go about doing it. If I had my choice, I’d build things (like the stuff in my Thursday Thirteen) and sell them full time…

Anybody out there ever go out on your own and start your own buisness? How did you go about it? Was it worth it? Have any tips or advice on getting started?

I wonder if I’d have the courage to really do it. I’d have to see the income coming in steadily before I’d ever leave the job I have behind… I think my biggest problem with doing it right now is that I just have no clue where I could sell what I can build. If I could get that part figured out… who knows?

First you need a product or a type of service to sell. If you have the capital you can fund it yourself or you can ask for a loan from the bank. But that could be complicated cause you have to produce a business plan. Anyway… you can do it. Graduated from a business school I got tons of examples from those people. There is no guarantee if you’re going to succeed or fail. The key is that you must be passionate about it and brave to act. Or otherwise someone else will come up with your idea and sell it. If you’re not passionate about your business…then if it fails..you’ll just hit the bottom and feel depressed. You don’t want that. If you’re passionate about your service/product…if it fails…you’ll be driven to continue on trying until you’re succeed. You must have committment and love for the product or services that you are selling. But if you succeed..it’s worthed. On how you go about it… it depends. Is it a web service or product? Tons of ways. Might be best if you attend a seminar about starting your own business. Or how to market your business. Oh gosh..i sounded like Anthony Robbins guy. err.. :p

I’ve been self employed my entire working life – 27 years so far. Wouldn’t have it any other way!
Downsides – you have to pay for your own medical insurance and retirement, you often work MUCH harder and longer than salaried people, it’s all your responsibility if you have employees who mess up….
Upside – well, you’re the boss! :!
Your stuff is nice, you have talent. Get some inventory together, find a good craft fair or something & spend several long days watching what people like, what they respond to most, listen….
I had an artsy craftsy thing going for a while, made good $$ some weekends, crashed & burned on others – that was just a sideline thing. It was fun though.
(IRL I’m a painting contractor & do some freelance writing on the side.)

SBA is a good resource.
AND so is ebay – ebay has a lot of resources. I’ve recently started making lots of money on ebay with no merchandise on hand!!!!!! I sell other stores stuff – I even use their photos and they send it whilst I make a profit. Unreal.

Guppy – I have no experience, but I do know you have talent and your stuff would SELL! I am sure of that. If this is something that you guys want to do…step out in faith and go for it!!! I’d buy something!

I went out on my own this year. I’m a mechanic, and run my blogs. I do affiliate marketing on the blogs, but I make my real money as a mechanic. It’s scary at first, not knowing if you’ll make enough to get by, let alone get ahead. My advice, to go along with the other comments here, start part time. Keep your day job, and work on what you are doing now. Put it on Ebay, take in some order’s. Give it time to build until you feel comfortable, then quit the day job. The rewards of working for yourself far out way working for someone else.

About

I'm just a guy trying to live my life the best I can. I am married to the woman of my dreams. I have a 8 year old daughter that I love dearly. I'm trying my best to keep my relationship with God as good as I can. I work too much, struggle with finances, have a family, house, pets, and misc. other stuff to keep up with along with trying to have my hobbies of woodworking and N-scale trains. Basically… I am living the American Dream and I couldn't be happier!